The Australian Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has allocated A$120.1 million to support 60 health research projects across the nation. This funding aims to advance initiatives in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care, addressing critical areas such as chronic respiratory conditions, long COVID, and unmet clinical needs. A notable project receiving support is the University of South Australia's 'Vital Steps' program, which will launch a large-scale trial of wearable activity trackers in rehabilitation services.
Funding Allocation
Australian health researchers will receive a total of A$120.1 million from the Medical Research Future Fund. This investment will support 60 distinct projects focused on enhancing various aspects of healthcare. The funding is intended to foster collaboration between researchers and clinicians, facilitating the integration of new methodologies into standard care practices within hospitals, including rehabilitation programs that monitor patient activity during recovery.
Priority Research Areas
The A$120.1 million in funding is specifically directed towards four key research priorities:
- Chronic respiratory conditions
- Clinical trials addressing unmet medical needs
- Research into long COVID
- Incorporation of patient insights to inform health technology decisions
Spotlight Project: 'Vital Steps'
Among the funded initiatives is the University of South Australia’s ‘Vital Steps’ program, led by Professor Carol Maher. This project is set to implement Australia's first large-scale trial utilizing wearable activity trackers within rehabilitation services.
The 'Vital Steps' program plans to integrate these activity trackers into routine care across seven rehabilitation sites located in Southern Adelaide. The project aims to establish patient movement as a vital sign, enabling clinicians to monitor activity levels, potentially support earlier patient independence, and improve recovery outcomes. The integration of activity monitoring into standard clinical practice is also anticipated to offer benefits for hospitals, including the potential for reduced patient stays, lower operational costs, and increased efficiency in care delivery as patients become more active.